Are You Open

Make questions open-ended.

This concept is a bit of a "duh." We all know that open-ended questions, those that require more than a yes/no answer, are more appropriate if you are trying to engage the other person in the conversation. Still, how conscious are you of the openness of your daily questions? Here are a few examples.

Example: "Do you like your work?" is not open-ended. You are likely to get a short, blunt answer to a question like this. An alternative way to ask the question which is open-ended is, "What about your work do you most enjoy?" The response is more likely to be robust enough to give you insights into the employee's motivations.

Example: "Are you going to make that mistake again?" is closed-ended and will likely put the employee on the defensive. It is parental in nature and does not allow the employee to participate in the problem-solving. An open ended alternative would be, "What are you going to do next time to make sure the outcome is more effective?"

Example: "Have you considered calling the vendor back?" is a question that is really a directive. You may have a clear picture of what the employee should do. In fact, you may have several suggestions for the employee. In time, you can offer your suggestions. However, if you want to engage the employee in solving the problem or if your goal is to coach them to higher levels of performance in the future, giving them the answer, even in the form of a closed question, is not the most effective approach. Instead, use an open-ended question like, "What solutions have you considered?"

Throughout the next few days, be aware of every question you ask. Are they really open ended questions or are they closed?

About the author

Author: Marnie E. Green, Chandler, Arizona, USA

Marnie E. Green is Principal Consultant of the Chandler, AZ-based Management Education Group, Inc, Arizona. She is the author of Painless Performance Evaluations: A Practical Approach to Managing Day to Day Employee Performance, published by Prentice Hall. The book has been honored with a Glyph Award for Best Business/Career Book and was a finalist in the management category of the Best Books USA Awards. Green is a speaker, author, and consultant who helps organizations optimize their talent pool. For more information about Green visit www.managementeducationgroup.com

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